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Mexico's president rules out joint raids with U.S. in drug war--good or bad?

March 30, 2009 | 1:33
pm

News item: Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Monday he has ruled out joint raids with the United States as part of the effort to minimize violence among drug cartels the border.

Calderon instead asked for more cooperation, equipment and logistical support, and implored President Barack Obama to do more to reduce demand for illegal drugs and stem the flow of weapons across the border.

Reaction: Fine for now. Mexico's ramped-up efforts to fight the cartels have been substantial and the U.S. should focus on contributing factors on this side of the border.

Unfortunately, the Obama administration will be unable to slow demand for illegal drugs and will have powerful gun lobbies to contend with regarding the weapons issue (gun sales have been brisk these past several months because of fears Obama will enact stricter gun-control measures).

But that's where the U.S. effort in the drug war belongs at this point: in the U.S.

--Pete Thomas

Photo: Mexican soldier stands guard over an arsenal of sophisticated weaponry captured last year during a raid across the border from Texas in Reynosa. Credit: Associated Press